Field Studies Council data puts the number at about 23. However there are more than this - even seen some outside of their list in my own garden! But not many more.

I am not including micro-moths(too exhaustive & time consuming!!).U.K. list of regular day-flying macro moths(as opposed to moths disturbed during daylight) is put(somewhat precisely?)at 103. Bear in mind the clearwings (Sesiidae) are definitely not easy to see without pheromone lures but many are day flying. The vast majority of moths are nocturnal, and most of these require a moth trap to determine their presence.

That said, there are 24(at least but maybe a few more) macro moths for this list. These are definitely day flying. 

Very Common 

Cinnabar - mainly nocturnal, but active during day also. Found in long grass. Flight May-July.

Burnet Companion - often in company of burnet moths!! Found in open woodland, pastures. Flight May-June.

Mother Shipton - Found in waste ground, industrial estates. Flight May- June.

Speckled Yellow - Found in woodland & scrubland. Flight May- June.(Sceptical this one is that common!)

Silver Y - Abundant. Found anywhere. Flight Spring to Autumn(June - September at least)

Latticed Heath - Confusing moth. Colour variable. Found anywhere in open habitats with several sub-species. Two generations most years. 

Yellow Shell - Another confusing moth with variable colours. At least four sub-species. Flight June - August. Favours all kinds of damp areas.

Common Carpet - Wide-ranging. Flight mid-July to mid-August.

Garden  Carpet - Wide-ranging with preference for suburbia. Flight April - September(very long).

Blood Vein - Moderately common. Two generations May- July & Aug-September.

Antler Moth - Abundant. Can devastate grasslands in high numbers. Flight July - August. 

Six-spot burnet - Commonest burnet moth. Found in meadows, woodland clearings. Flight June - August.

That is it for very common species. Moths like humming bird hawkmoth(regularly seen in gardens) & Angel Shades come in Part II !!

 N.B. All other hawk-moth species e.g. elephant hawk-moth are nocturnal (though can be disturbed during the day).

-- Edited by Anthon C B on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 04:55:45 PM